Abstract
AbstractThis talk has 4 major sections. First, I review the basic definition of a complex trait, especially as it applies to psychiatric disorders. Second, I outline the 4 basic paradigms of psychiatric genetics: simple genetic epidemiology, advanced genetic epidemiology, gene-finding methods and molecular genetics. Third, I review a few basic facts about psychiatric genetics - the level of heritabilities found for most common disorders and the difficulties the field has had in obtaining replicated evidence for single gene effects. Finally, I briefly review three conceptual/philosophical issues that relate to psychiatric genetics: i) why do people become much more concerned in learning about possible genetic influences on personality or risk for depression than genes that influence risk for cancer, atherosclerosis or asthma? ii) how have the results of research in behavioral/Psychiatric Genetics impacted on the sense of Parental Responsibility for psychiatric illness in their offspring.To watch Dr. Kendler’s presentation, please see the "Google Video posting.":http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3261606556062804269&hl=en
Highlights
What makes for a complex trait? 4 Paradigms of Psychiatric Genetics The broad pattern of empirical findings from the field. A selection of “bioethical” issues
For disorder that have been examined in multiple samples – e.g. schizophrenia, depression, alcohol dependence – general sense of replication is pretty good
Genetic research on for behavioral and psychiatric traits cut closer to the bone – in showing that genes can impact on traits related to our core sense of self
Summary
The impact of individual genes on risk is small ( the cumulative effect of all genes may be rather large). Multiple aspects of the environment is of etiologic importance. The pathway from causes to illness is complicated. Genes and environment often don’t add together.
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